The Virginia Thoroughbred Association (VTA) has announced that Jill Byrne will take over as the organization’s Executive Director. Debbie Easter will remain an integral part of the VTA but will now focus more time and energy on a wider range of industry initiatives with the Virginia Equine Alliance (VEA) of which she is President. Byrne will also continue to serve in her existing role as Vice-President of Marketing & Strategic Planning for the VEA.
Byrne is a Virginia native and graduate of the University of Virginia in Charlottesville and has come full circle in a sense. After spending several decades in various roles around the country — as on-air host and handicapper with TVG, Senior Director of Industry Relations with the Breeders’ Cup and Director of Broadcast Operations with Churchill Downs, she returned to Virginia to serve as VP of Racing Operations at Colonial Downs during the 2019 “Racing Revival” season and remained in that capacity for three more years before joining the VEA in 2023. With her combined VEA and VTA responsibilities, Byrne is once again based in Charlottesville where she works and resides.
“I look forward to continue to represent the Virginia horsemen and women, and work with all stakeholders as our racing and breeding programs in the state are growing and prospering,” said Byrne. “Virginia has a renowned history in the thoroughbred industry and our future is brighter than ever.”
“Our Virginia Equine Alliance team has accomplished so much over the last 7 years, but we need to continue to keep our foot on the gas if we are going to see continued growth for our Thoroughbred and Standardbred industries,” added Easter. ” Jill has done a fantastic job heading up marketing for the VEA and I am so pleased that she is willing to also take on a roll with the VTA. With her marketing knowledge and passion for Virginia’s Thoroughbred industry, the VTA will be in very good hands. This move will allow me to enhance my role as President of the Virginia Equine Alliance. I can work even closer with Jeb Hannum (VEA Executive Director) to concentrate on the larger industry initiatives that will keep us moving forward into the future.”
“I’m pleased that Jill Byrne is taking on an even larger role in Virginia racing,” said Turner Kobayashi, VTA President and General Manager of Audley Farm Equine in Berryville. “She has tremendous experience and has been a major player for a long time. Her new role allows Debbie (Easter) to help in other important areas. They are both great leaders and we are lucky to have both these talented professionals to lead us into the future.”
The Virginia Thoroughbred Association was organized in 1941 to cultivate the development of the Commonwealth’s heritage as a producer of quality Thoroughbred horses. Today, more than 80 years later, the VTA boasts a membership base of about 700 members and is responsible for implementing a number of successful bonus programs including the Virginia Breeders Fund and the Virginia Certified Residency program — which was instrumental in keeping the native industry not just afloat, but vibrant, after Colonial Downs initially ceased thoroughbred operations after the 2013 season.
The Certified Residency program, which started in 2017, requires horses to spend at least six consecutive months at a registered Virginia farm or training center before they turn three years of age. Since the program began, a total of 5,031 horses have participated and on average, each horse has stayed eight months in Virginia. Between 2018 and 2023, the program paid out a total of $14.6 million in bonuses and has had a total economic impact of $86.2 million, supporting 825 jobs in the Commonwealth.
The VEA is a non-profit, 501(c)6 organization which is comprised of the Virginia Harness Horse Association (VHHA), the Virginia Horsemen’s Benevolent & Protective Association, the Virginia Gold Cup Association and the VTA. The purpose of the VEA is to sustain, promote and expand the horse breeding and horse racing industries in Virginia. The VEA represents the interests of horsemen at meetings of the Virginia General Assembly, the Virginia Department of Agriculture, the Virginia Racing Commission along with other racing, horsemen and breeder associations.
~ High-profile trainers Bob Baffert, D. Wayne Lukas, and Ken McPeek all enter horses in historic Kentucky Derby qualifying race this Saturday, March 15 at Colonial Downs; Multiple Triple Crown race winning jockeys to ride this weekend ~
The race fields for the historic 2025 Virginia Derby and 2025 Virginia Oaks will feature a slate of promising young horses, including one born right here in Virginia, and legendary race teams, trainers, and jockeys with multiple Kentucky Derby and Triple Crown victories on their resumes.
“Racing’s legends and rising stars will be continuing their journey on The Road to the Kentucky Derby right here at Colonial Downs this Saturday,” said Frank Hopf, Senior Director of Racing Operations for Colonial Downs. “The 2025 Virginia Derby and Virginia Oaks will feature worldclass horses trained and jockeyed by some of the absolute best in the business. This is sure to be an exciting and historic day in Virginia racing!”
Fewer than 500 General Admission tickets remain at the fan-friendly price of just $5, while all reserved seats are sold out.
The 2025 Virginia Derby will, for the first time ever, serve as a qualifying race on The Road to the Kentucky Derby with the winning horse securing a spot in the 151st Kentucky Derby.
The 2025 Virginia Derby will feature world-class three-year old horses including:
Early favorite Getaway Car trained by two-time Triple Crown winning and six-time Kentucky Derby winning trainer Bob Baffert.
American Promise, son of 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify trained by four-time Kentucky Derby winning trainer D. Wayne Lukas
Render Judgement featuring the trainer/jockey combination of Ken McPeek and Brian Hernandez, Jr. who won the 2024 Kentucky Derby with Mystik Dan and 2024 Kentucky Oaks with Thorpedo Anna
Omaha Omaha—this promising horse was born at Chance Farm in Gordonsville, Virginia and will be running his first race in his home state
John Hancock ridden by Mike Smith who won the 2018 Triple Crown aboard Justify and has won a total of seven Triple Crown races in his career
The full Virginia Derby field with odds as of Saturday, March 8 is:
1. Calling Card (Luan Machado, Mike Maker, 15-1)
2. John Hancock (Mike Smith, Brad Cox, 3-1)
3. American Promise (Nik Juarez, D. Wayne Lukas, 12-1)
4. Omaha Omaha (Raul Mena, Michael Gorham, 10-1)
5. Studlydoright (Xavier Perez, John Robb, 15-1)
6. Getaway Car (Irad Ortiz, Jr., Bob Baffert, 9-5)
7. Rapture (Flavien Prat, Brad Cox, 5-1)
8. Authentic Gallop (Javier Castellano, Tom Amoss, 10-1)
9. Render Judgement (Brian Hernandez, Jr., Ken McPeek, 12-1)
10. Georgia Magic (Sheldon Russell, Ray Handal, 30-1)
(Jockey, Trainer, Odds)
The 2025 Virginia Oaks will feature a field of eight promising three-year old fillies seeking qualification for the 2025 Kentucky Oaks. These include:
Gowells Delight and Anonima both trained by 2024 Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks winning trainer Ken McPeek. Gowells Delight will be ridden by Brian Hernandez, Jr. who won the 2024 Kentucky Derby aboard Mystik Dan and the 2024 Kentucky Oaks riding Thorpedo Anna
Low Key ridden by Mike Smith who won the 2018 Triple Crown aboard Justify and has won a total of seven Triple Crown races in his career
Icona Mama ridden by three-time Kentucky Derby winner John Velazquez
You’ll Be Back ridden by four-time Triple Crown race winning jockey Javier Castellano
The full Virginia Oaks field with odds as of Saturday, March 8 is:
1. Icona Mama (John Velazquez, Flint Stites, 8-1)
2. Low Key (Mike Smith, Tom Amoss, 10-1)
3. Gowells Delight (Brian Hernandez, Jr., Ken McPeek, 3-1)
4. Anonima (Colby Hernandez, Ken McPeek, 6-1)
5. Early On (Flavien Prat, Saffie Joseph, Jr., 8-1)
6. You’ll Be Back (Javier Castellano, Tom Amoss, 9-2)
7. Girl Math (Luan Machado, Rodolphe Brisset, 5-1)
8. Fondly (Irad Ortiz, Jr., Graham Motion, 7-2)
(Jockey, Trainer, Odds)
This special weekend of spring racing at Colonial Downs begins on Thursday, March 13 with a post time of 12:30pm, continues on Friday, March 14 with races beginning at 12:30pm, and culminates with Virginia Derby Day on Saturday, March 15 with the day’s first race beginning at noon. Derby Day will feature a 10-race card including the Virginia Oaks (Race 8) and Virginia Derby (Race 9.)
For tickets or more information about the 2025 Virginia Derby, please visit www.colonialdowns.com.
Colonial Downs will offer an extensive wagering menu for Virginia Derby weekend, highlighted by two daily 50-cent Pick 5 wagers each with a fan-friendly 12% takeout.
Thursday and Friday’s eight-race cards will feature Pick 5s beginning in Races 1 and 4. Saturday’s Virginia Derby card will include two Pick 5s, starting in Races 1 and 6. If no winning tickets correctly select all five winners in the sequence, the pool will carryover to the next day’s late Pick 5 sequence. There will be a mandatory payout in all Pick 5 pools on Saturday.
The wagering lineup also includes the $1 Old Dominion 6, a traditional non-jackpot bet, covering the final six races each day with a low 15% takeout. Thursday and Friday will feature two 50-cent Pick 4 wagers (starting in races 2 and 5), while Saturday will offer three (beginning in races 2, 4, and 7).
Saturday’s 10-race program is headlined by the $500,000 Virginia Derby and $250,000 Virginia Oaks, Championship Series contests on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, presented by Woodford Reserve, and Road to the Longines Kentucky Oaks, respectively. Friday’s action includes the $150,000 Boston Handicap and $150,000 Stellar Wind Handicap, both restricted to Virginia-bred, -sired or -certified horses.
Colonial Downs will offer lucrative purses for the undercard races all weekend, with open-company Maiden Special Weight races carrying a $75,000 purse and Virginia-bred Maiden Special Weight races worth $93,750. Open-company allowance races will range from $80,000 to $85,000, while Virginia-bred allowance races will offer a purse of $100,000.
Fans can catch the action live on FanDuel TV, who will broadcast on-site all weekend, or via the Colonial Downs simulcast feed. Horseplayers can wager on all the action from Virginia Derby weekend at www.TwinSpires.com, the official wagering provider of Churchill Downs Incorporated and the Kentucky Derby. TwinSpires will offer special promotions for betting on races from Colonial Downs and a qualifier for the $250,000 Kentucky Derby Betting Challenge featuring races from both Colonial and Oaklawn. For the latest information about the Virginia Derby, visit https://rosiesgaming.com/virginia-derby/
Exiting a second-place finish in the Rachel Alexandra (G2) at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, Fern Circle Stables’ Gowells Delight was made the 3-1 morning-line favorite for the $250,000 Virginia Oaks at Colonial Downs.
The co-feature of a special three-day meet beginning Thursday, March 13, the 1 1/16-miles Virginia Oaks will be held on Saturday, March 15, together with the 1 1/8-miles $500,000 Virginia Derby. The winning horse in each race will receive 50 points toward the Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) or Kentucky Derby, presented by Woodford Reserve (G1), respectively. The second- through fifth-place finishers will earn 25-15-10-5 points on a sliding scale.
First post for Saturday’s 10-race card is 12:00 p.m. Eastern time. The Virginia Oaks is scheduled as Race 8, followed immediately by the Virginia Derby.
Debuting at two turns in December at Fair Grounds, Gowells Delight beat seven rivals by 5½ lengths. Trainer Ken McPeek threw the daughter of Practical Joke into deep waters for her encore, where she ran a troubled fourth in the Martha Washington at Oaklawn Park. After showing a new dimension when setting the pace in last month’s Rachel Alexandra, Gowells Delight proved no match for the undefeated Good Cheer, but with her runner-up finish, she boosted her Oaks qualifying points to 16.5. One of two entered in the local oaks by McPeek, Gowells Delight drew post 3 and will be piloted by Brian Hernandez, Jr.
Drawing to the immediate outside of her stablemate, Magdalena Racing and Steve Crabtree’s two-time winner Anonima will ship to New Kent fresh off her first stakes try, when she ran sixth to Quietside in the Honeybee (G3) at Oaklawn. Installed at 6-1 in the morning line, Anonima will receive the services of Colby Hernandez.
Though she’s only started once, Fondly won her debut in style on Valentine’s Day at Tampa Bay Downs for trainer Graham Motion. Demonstrating her push-button potential when overcoming two spots of trouble, the Upstart filly won going away and earned an 84 Brisnet Speed figure. Owned by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Fondly was tabbed as the 7-2 second choice in the line and will break from the far outside post under jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr.
Sent off as the favorite last out in the Cincinnati Trophy at Turfway Park, WinStar Farm’s Girl Math only managed to run fifth across the Tapeta surface where she broke her maiden I the start prior. With three second-place finishes on main track at Churchill Downs on her resume, the Rodolphe Brisset trainee will return to the dirt for the Virginia Oaks and reunite with jockey Luan Machado who was aboard for her maiden score. Set at 5-1 in the morning line, the daughter of McKinzie drew post 7.
Looking the part in her first try going two turns, C2 Racing Stable, Ken Reimer, Paul Braverman, Timothy Pinch, and Bradley Kent’s Early On exits a 5¼-length maiden score at Gulfstream Park for trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr. Flavien Prat, the 2024 Eclipse Award-winning jockey, is named to ride the Union Rags filly, who drew post 5 and was made 8-1 in the morning line.
The complete field for the $250,000 Virginia Oaks from the rail out (with jockey, trainer, and morning line odds):
Icona Mama (John Velazquez, Flint Stites, 8-1)
Low Key (Mike Smith, Tom Amoss, 10-1)
Gowells Delight (Brian Hernandez, Jr., Ken McPeek, 3-1)
Anonima (Colby Hernandez, Ken McPeek, 6-1)
Early On (Flavien Prat, Saffie Joseph, Jr., 8-1)
You’ll Be Back (Javier Castellano, Tom Amoss, 9-2)
Sometimes love, in all its forms, creates a unique web of connections, bringing people together around their passions. Diana McClure (DMC Racing Stables) and Susan Cooney (Cooney Racing Stable) are long-time horsewomen in Northern Virginia who found domestic happiness through their love of horses. They both raise & train racehorses and have farms just eight miles apart. But they have something else in common. Each is married to one of the Cooney brothers, Pat and Michael, who came over from Ireland to the United States to ride steeplechase horses.
Susan met Pat Cooney on a blind date at Fox’s Den in Camden, South Carolina. Pat, who had been in the U.S. for less than a year, was there to ride steeplechase horses and Susan was there as an assistant trainer. Raised in the rich tradition of Irish hunt racing, Pat had grown tired of riding on the flat and wanted to find his way back into the jump race game.
“He shows up in town in a Le Car,” recalled Susan — laughing as she thought back on her first interactions with her husband. “The car was held together with wire and the muffler was pea cans.”
Pat jokes that he fell in love with Susan because she was driving a Porsche. “But her car wasn’t a Porsche, it was a Honda. It was new and bright red,” he said. “I thought I was marrying a rich girl with a new Porshe!”
As their relationship deepened, they felt the urge to put down roots in Northern Virginia since Pat was still riding for Paul Fout — who was based in Middleburg. Susan ended up getting a job in Middleburg working for George Ohrstrom at White Wood Farm. They secured a great farmhouse and a barn full of layups and babies to work with, pointing towards the racetrack. “That was Geroge’s “fourth string” horses,” joked Susan..
Five years later, Susan moved from being a private trainer to a public one and secured her trainer’s license at Charles Town while she was working for Ohrstrom. They had a horse named “Fill My Card,” who they brought to Virginia from Camden, South Carolina. They called the horse “Spinner” because he was such a bad stall-walking horse as a baby. They broke and trained the colt and started riding him at some of the hunt meets in Northern Virginia. After winning both over timber and hurdles they decided to give him a try on the flat at Garden State Park.
As young trainers new to the New Jersey racetrack, they entered the race with a jockey a friend had recommended. That jockey took off the horse just an hour before the race. The Clerk of Scales called Susan and asked who she wanted to ride. She checked her program and selected the leading jockey at the meet, Joe Bravo. Much to her surprise, he took the mount. In the paddock, before the race, Susan recalls Joe saying, “This horse can run for miles, he will be fine!” Much to their satisfaction, he was correct, winning the race by 18 1/2 lengths.
From there it was a learning curve for the couple. Pat’s experience as a jump rider in Ireland and now here in the States, combined with and Susan’s experience as a jump race trainer, was not the typical path for young trainers to come up and succeed in the game.
A career highlight for the couple came via their homebred filly, Embarr. She hit the starting gate in her first start as a 2-year-old and ended up with a tibial stress fracture which forced her to take the year off. She came back as a 3-year-old in a maiden claiming race at Colonial Downs and thrived. Embarr galloped out of the race-winning by eight lengths. They brought her back in the Brookmeade Stakes next and after coming around the final turn into the homestretch, she turned on the jets and won.
Embarr ended up with career earnings of $358,247 and five stakes wins — the Brookmeade three times and the Dahlia at Pimlico twice. “She taught us about going to these bigger racetracks and getting the confidence to take on some of the bigger outfits,” said Susan. ” She took us on a journey from Saratoga to Arlington and other tracks in between.”
As the years have progressed, things have gotten a little simpler for the Cooney’s who primarily race in Maryland and Virginia now. Susan also breeds English Labradors, something she has been involved with since she attended Texas A&M University pursuing a graduate degree. “In the early days, I was selling Labs to pay for racehorse stud fees,” she said. “A lot of our puppies have gone to racing families in Maryland.”
Down the road from Susan and Pat lives another Cooney family — Pat’s brother Mike and sister-in-law Diana. Pat and Susan first got to know Diana when they were renting stalls at Interhorse, which was located across the street from the Middleburg Training Center where Mike was based.
Diana McClure’s journey into horse racing started at Virginia Tech where she was in the pre-vet program and played collegiate field hockey. She met her first husband there, and they started their careers in the New Jersey race circuit. Diana’s father was a pilot and during her senior year, she spent the semester flying back and forth between classes and tending to her horses in New Jersey. That same year, they purchased four yearlings with the plan of selling them as 2-year-olds in a training age sale — which they did. That gave them a cushion moneywise to begin working as assistant trainers in New Jersey the following year.
After her marriage ended a few months later, Diana moved back to Virginia and, taking her mentor John Forbes advice, began running a training operation by herself for the first time, at Interhorse. In time, she found herself with a full stable of 20 horses. “Going out on my own might have been the best decision I ever made.”
In 1996 Diana met Michael and noticed how well he was galloping horses on the Middleburg track.
Michael, who is four years older than Pat, finished school at 14 and went straight to the Curragh area of Ireland — known for breeding and training champion horses and jockeys — to learn how to ride horses in a six-year apprenticeship. In 1979 he won the Apprentice championship and was runner-up in 1980. He found himself at a crossroads deciding where to ride next. He had an offer to ride races in England but instead decided to give the U.S. racing circuit a chance. He started riding in New York hustling races, and in time, people started to notice his skill and he got more and more mounts.
He returned home for a spell though and decided to give something outside of horse racing a chance. He quickly realized he missed it and wanted to return to the States to ride again. “I called my brother Pat about coming to Middleburg,” said Michael. “He said I’d have a place to stay there with our third brother, Jerry, and that he’d start asking around to get me some rides.”
After a cold day training her horses in the blizzard year of 1995-1996. Diana decided to meet a friend at a local cafe for a warm cider. She walked in, still in her barn clothes, and sat down next to Michael. They were introduced and Diana was excited to meet him because she loved the way he used his hands when he was riding. Diana’s jockey Peter Walsch was retiring that year, and she asked Michael if he would ride for her. He agreed to do so when the ground softened up. The evening was slowing down at the bar and everyone headed home. Diana asked Michael if he was going to stay around the bar long enough for her to run home, feed and water the horses, change clothes, and return. Michael agreed to do so. Diana went home, took care of her horses, and got ready. She called the bartender and asked if Michael was still at the bar. He had left. The time wasn’t quite right, but fate had plans for Diana and Michael.
Diana had a friend and neighbor named Gordie Keys who asked her to clip a horse named Super Shot Diana had sold him. While working on Super Shot, the horse kicked Diana in the back of the head. Gordie found her with blood shooting out of her ear. He threw her in the car and took her to the hospital in Leesburg. Diana had a fractured skull and had a seizure. She was transported to the Fairfax trauma center where she was put into a medically induced coma.
Eventually, Diana woke from her coma and found out from her assistant Albert that her friend had been bringing riders over to work the horses while she was away and one of them was Michael. Diana reached out to him and said, “I can’t drive, and I can’t ride, but I have to pay you for the riding you did while I was away.”
Michael came over and Diana asked him if he would help with the steeplechase horses. Michael agreed and, after a trip to the grocery store later that evening, he stopped by Diana’s to tell her he would be able to work the next day. “From that evening on he just never left,” said Diana. I’m still waiting on my first date.”
That was the beginning of DMC Racing Stables. Michael and Diana were married six months later.
The two families have built successful farms just a few miles apart. When Susan and Pat’s stables are full, they often send new clients and owners to Diana and Michael. “Brother Michael” as Pat and Susan lovingly refer to him, returns the favor by helping with maintenance projects at Cooney Stables. While they are separate stables, they are always helping each other out and are always cheering each other on at the track.
The Cooneys, all four of them, have been prominent members of the Virginia horse world for three decades. Susan and Diana are both longtime board members of the Virginia Thoroughbred Association and the Virginia HBPA. They embody the comradery and sportsmanship that is representative of the Virginia horse industry. They both credit the Virginia-Certified Residency program in helping to sustain horse farms in the Commonwealth, especially during the five-year gap when Colonial Downs was dormant.
They are looking forward to extending their family’s engagement with racing in Virginia. Michael and Pat’s niece is in her first season riding races at Dundalk in Ireland, the same place the Cooney brothers learned to ride. She is only five wins behind the leading jockey in Ireland. The brothers plan on having her visit the United States soon to get a taste of racing in Maryland and Virginia. They hope she continues the family legacy in Virginia racing.
Saturday’s 1 1/8-mile race at Colonial Downs attracted ten 3-year-olds and provides the winner 50 qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby
The field is set for the first-ever Kentucky Derby qualifying race at Colonial Downs as the $500,000 Virginia Derby attracted a field of ten 3-year-olds, led by the Sunland Park Derby (L) winner Getaway Car.
Virginia Derby fans will experience new hospitality areas when they arrive at the New Kent oval March 15 including trackside benches that have been moved closer to the track for the 3-day all-dirt meet.
The centerpiece of a special three-day meet beginning Thursday, the 1 1/8-mile Virginia Derby will be held on Saturday together with the 1 1/16-miles $250,000 Virginia Oaks. The winning horse in each race will receive 50 points toward the Kentucky Derby (G1) or the Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1), respectively. The second- through fifth-place finishers will earn 25-15-10-5 points on a sliding scale.
The Virginia Derby is scheduled as Race 9 and the Virginia Oaks, Race 8.
Trained by Bob Baffert and owned by a large partnership that includes SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, and others, Getaway Car has already racked up 36 Derby qualifying points. Making his sophomore debut last out in the Sunland Park Derby, the front-running Getaway Car was headed by Caldera at the top of the stretch but battled back to win by a bob at the wire. The Curlin colt’s first stakes success came at second asking with a win in the Best Pal (G3) at Del Mar last summer. Tabbed as the 9-5 favorite in the morning line, Getaway Car drew post 6 and attracted the services of Irad Ortiz Jr.
Trainer Brad Cox will ship two colts to Colonial, both owned by CHC & WinStar Farm. Of the pair, the undefeated John Hancock was installed as the 3-1 second choice in the line. The son of Constitution proved himself in his first Derby prep, wiring the field last out in the Sam F. Davis (L) Feb. 8 at Tampa Bay Downs. Mike Smith has the call aboard the colt. Stablemate Rapture will be reunited with Flavien Prat, who was on board the son of Uncle Mo for his maiden-breaking 6½-length score at Oaklawn Park.
Coming off a year where he saddled both the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks winner, trainer Kenny McPeek entered Render Judgment in the Virginia Derby. Earning 4 qualifying points as a juvenile with a third in the Gun Runner (L) at Fair Grounds and a fifth in the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) at Churchill Downs, Render Judgment was not able to add to his total in his lone start as a sophomore, where he ran eighth in the Risen Star (G2) Feb. 15 at Fair Grounds. Owned by Baccari Racing Stable, Dream Walkin Farms, MJM Racing, and Rocket Ship Racing, the Blame colt drew post 9 and will be piloted by Brian Hernandez, Jr.
Colonial Downs Senior Director of Racing Frank Hopf and his staff have spent months preparing for the 2025 Virginia Derby which is expected to draw the biggest crowd since racing returned to New Kent in 2019.
Bred in Virginia, On Your Left Racing’s accomplished Omaha Omaha will ship in from Laurel Park for his first start in his home state. Trained by Michael Gorham, the homebred has racked up 11 Derby points by running third in the Withers (L) and second in the Jerome, both at Aqueduct.
Other contenders include BC Stables’ American Promise, who grabbed 5 points for D. Wayne Lukas last out in the Risen Star, and Greenwell Thoroughbreds’ Authentic Gallop, who exits a blinkers-off allowance victory at Oaklawn Park for trainer Tom Amoss.
Following is the field for the Virginia Derby from the rail out (with jockey, trainer, morning-line odds): Calling Card (Luan Machado, Mike Maker, 15-1) John Hancock (Mike Smith, Brad Cox, 3-1) American Promise (Nik Juarez, D. Wayne Lukas, 12-1) Omaha Omaha (Raul Mena, Michael Gorham, 10-1) Studlydoright (Xavier Perez, John Robb, 15-1) Getaway Car (Irad Ortiz Jr., Bob Baffert, 9-5) Rapture (Flavien Prat, Brad Cox, 5-1) Authentic Gallop (Javier Castellano, Tom Amoss, 10-1) Render Judgement (Brian Hernandez Jr., Kenny McPeek, 12-1) Georgia Magic (Sheldon Russsell, Ray Handal, 30-1)
Saturday March 15 may be Virginia Derby Day, but don’t pass on Friday’s (March 14) card at Colonial Downs which includes a pair of $150,000 Virginia-restricted handicaps — the Stellar Wind, for fillies/mares 4&up, and The Boston, for males 4&up.
The Boston Handicap celebrates the Hall of Fame Virginia-bred who was bred/raised in Henrico County.
The Boston’s 11-horse field includes a million-dollar earning Virginia-certified horse — Book’em Danno — and an almost million dollar earning Virginia-bred — Repo Rocks. The former won the G1 Woody Stephens Stakes at Saratoga last summer and prior to racing, spent his Virginia residency at Gracie Bloodstock in Middleburg. The latter enters the race with a bankroll of $994,246. The 7-year-old Tapiture gelding was bred by Mrs. C. Oliver Iselin III and won an allowance in New Kent last August. Colonial’s first post Friday is 12:30 PM and The Boston is Race 7 on the card.
Repo Rocks won an allowance race at Colonial Downs in August, 2024 (Coady Media).
Morgan Ford Farms’ Virginia-bred Binnie should attract attention in the Stellar Wind. The 4-year-old Great Notion filly was best in a $87,500 allowance last August in New Kent with Jevian Toldeo up top. The Brittany Russell trainee is 4-for-5 with $145,260 in earnings and will have the services of jockey/husband Sheldon Russell on Friday. The Stellar Wind has an impressive field of 11 and is Race 6 on the card.
Binnie captures an allowance at Colonial Downs last August (Coady Media).
Colonial’s first ever 3-day all-dirt meet runs from March 13-15. Eight race cards are programmed Thursday and Friday and a 10-race card is set on Derby Day. Admission is free except March 15 when general admission is $5. Fans are urged to purchase the $5 tickets in advance at colonialdowns.com. They have been selling very rapidly!
Final preparations are underway for Virginia Derby weekend at Colonial Downs, where a three-day meet from March 13-15 will feature Saturday’s stakes doubleheader, the $500,000 Virginia Derby and $250,000 Virginia Oaks.
“It’s shaping up to be a great weekend of racing,” trainer Brad Cox said. “We plan to have several horses to run, including one in the Virginia Derby.”
Among the expected contenders for the Virginia Derby is Mike Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman’s Grade 1 winner Gaming. Trained by Bob Baffert, Gaming won the Del Mar Futurity (G1) as a 2-year-old and went on to finish second to his stablemate Citizen Bull in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1). Top jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. is scheduled to have the call in the Virginia Derby.
Another accomplished 3-year-old expected to enter the Virginia Derby is On Your Left Racing’s homebred Omaha Omaha, who began his Road to the Kentucky Derby campaign with a second-place finish in the Jerome Stakes and a third in the Withers Stakes at Aqueduct. The Virginia-bred son of Audible has been preparing for the Virginia Derby at his Laurel Park base, where he completed a five-furlong work in 1:03.60 on Saturday.
Trainer D. Wayne Lukas said he is likely to send BC Stables’ American Promise to the Virginia Derby. The son of Justify broke his maiden Dec. 29 at Oaklawn Park, then finished seventh in the Southwest Stakes (G3) and fifth in Fair Grounds’ Risen Star Stakes (G2). American Promise tuned up for the Virginia Derby on Monday at Oaklawn, working six furlongs in a sharp 1:11.80.
The Virginia Derby is a Road to the Kentucky Derby Championship Series event, awarding qualifying points on a 50-25-15-10-5 scale toward the $5 million Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) on Saturday, May 3 at Churchill Downs. The Virginia Oaks awards points on the same scale toward the $1.5 million Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) on May 2.
Trainer Graham Motion said on the “Jason Beem Horse Racing Podcast” that Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners’ Fondly is likely to make the journey from South Florida for the Road to the Kentucky Oaks Championship Series race. The daughter of Upstart broke her maiden on debut three weeks ago at Tampa Bay Downs, cruising to a four-length victory.
Another accomplished filly aiming for the Virginia Oaks is DeSales 85’s Icona Mama. Trained by Flint Stites, Icona Mama began her Road to the Kentucky Oaks with a third-place finish in the Pocahontas Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs in mid-September. Since that race, the Pennsylvania-bred daughter of Maximus Mischief won the Shamrock Rose Stakes at Penn National by an eye-catching 9½ lengths.
Entries for the three-day meet will be taken seven days in advance, with the entry schedule as follows: Thursday (for March 13), Friday (for March 14) and Saturday (for March 15).
First post is 12:30 p.m. (all times Eastern) Thursday and Friday, and 12:00 p.m. Saturday. Friday’s card is highlighted by the $150,000 Boston Handicap and $150,000 Stellar Wind Handicap, both restricted to Virginia bred, sired or certified horses.
The Colonial Downs backstretch will be open Thursday, March 6 through Sunday, March 16. Training will be available from 6:00-9:00 a.m. from Friday, March 7 through Saturday, March 15.
Following Virginia Derby weekend, Colonial Downs’ expanded 2025 racing season will feature 41 days of live racing, running Wednesday through Saturday from July 9 through Sept. 13, plus a special holiday card on Labor Day Monday, September 1.
Determined Stables and Kingdom Bloodstock’s Determined Kingdom has been named Virginia-Bred Horse of the Year and will be recognized — along with other 2024 award winners — during Virginia Derby Day festivities at Colonial Downs March 15. A series of award presentations will take place between various races from the paddock infield that day and broadcast over Colonial’s simulcast feed. After 21 editions of the Virginia Derby — on turf, held during the summer months since 1998 — the race switches to dirt this year and becomes an official qualifier race on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. Virginia’s Derby winner will secure a spot in the field for the “Run for the Roses” May 3 at Churchill Downs.
Determined Kingdom charges home in the 2024 Punch Line Stakes at Colonial Downs (Coady Media).
Determined Kingdom had an outstanding 2024 campaign which included wins in the $125,000 Punch Line Stakes and $150,000 Meadow Stable Handicap, both held at Colonial Downs. The 6-year-old Animal Kingdom gelding collected four wins from six starts and bankrolled $285,900 — pushing his career tally to $734,177. Other winners circle appearances came in a $140,000 fall allowance at Keeneland and a $56,000 early summer allowance at Laurel. The Phil Schoenthal trainee also finished third in Colonial’s Van Clief Stakes and fifth in the G3 Belmont Turf Sprint Stakes. Prior to 2024, Determined Kingdom had won four Virginia-bred stakes — the Punch Line in 2022 & 2033, Meadow Stable in 2023 and Jamestown in 2021. The trophy winner, who also was crowned Virginia-bred Turf Sprinter of the Year, was bred by Audley Farm Equine.
Virginia-Bred Gigante closed out 2024 with a win in the Buddy Diliberto Stakes at Fair Grounds December 21 (Hodges Photography).
Million-dollar earner Gigante was named Virginia-Bred Turf Horse of the Year. The Steve Asmussen trainee earned $152,175 from five starts last year including a win in the Buddy Diliberto Memorial Stakes at Fair Grounds December 21. The 5-year-old Not This Time horse added to his resume with a runner-up finish in the G2 Muniz Memorial Classic at Fair Grounds and a third in the G3 River City Stakes at Churchill. Gigante of course started his career in 2022 with wins at Colonial in a maiden special weight and later in the Kitten’s Joy Stakes, then prevailed in the G2 Secretariat Stakes in 2023. Interestingly, Gigante was sold by his original owners — Diamond T Racing & Iapetus Racing — for $610,000 to Clark Brewster & L and N Racing on January 31 of this year. Virginia’s 2024 Champion Turf Horse was bred by Ann Mudge Backer and Smitten Farm.
Saxton prevails in a maiden special weight race in New Kent (Coady Media)
Freshman title awards will be presented to Sail Theseven Seas and Saxton in respective Virginia-bred Filly & Colt categories. The former, a Michael Trombetta trainee bred by Larry Johnson, finished in the top three in all five of her races. She prevailed in a maiden special weight at Laurel to close out her 2024 campaign and earlier in the summer, finished second in both the $125,000 Jamestown and $150,000 Keswick Stakes at Colonial. The latter trophy winner, a Cathal Lynch trainee bred by Lazy Lane Farms, was 2-for-5 last year and bankrolled $110,400. The Mosler gelding won a maiden special weight in New Kent in his career bow and followed up with a gate-to-wire allowance win at Laurel four weeks later. He also took second in the Maryland Juvenile Stakes and third in the James Lewis III Stakes.
Tufani was best in the Brookmeade Stakes at Colonial Downs (Coady Media).
Top Virginia-bred Older Female honors went to Susan Naylor’s Tufani, who was bred by Chance Farm and Distorted Humor Syndicate. The now 5-year-old mare won two key races at Colonial — the $125,000 Brookmeade Stakes and $150,000 Nellie Mae Cox Handicap. Jockey Ben Curtis had the winning ride in both. Overall last year, the Michael Stidham trainee earned $188,500 from five starts and pushed her lifetime earnings to $362,442.
Virginia-Certified winners include Future Is Now as top female performer and Book’em Danno as top male. Both had outstanding campaigns — the former earned $513,155 while the latter bankrolled $807,500.
Future Is Now returns to the winners circle in the G2 Intercontinental Stakes at Saratoga (Adam Coglianese Photography)
Maryland-bred Future Is Now won four stakes including a pair of Grade 2’s — the Intercontinental at Saratoga June 7 and the Franklin Stakes at Keeneland October 13. Other stakes victories came in Laurel’s The Very One and in Saratoga’s Smart N Fancy. The trophy winner is a 5-year-old Great Notion mare trained by Michael Trombetta and owned/bred by Larry Johnson. Future Is Now spent her Virginia residency at Johnson’s Legacy Farm in Bluefield.
Book’em Danno had an outstanding 2024 campaign that included a win in the G1 Woody Stephens Stakes (Adam Coglianese Photography).
Book’em Danno collected a trio of stakes wins including a Grade 1 score in the Woody Stephens Stakes at Saratoga on the Belmont Day card. The 4-year-old Bucchero gelding also connected in the Pasco Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs and Jersey Shore Stakes at Monmouth. In addition, Book’em Danno took second in the G3 Saudi Derby at King Abdulaziz Racecourse. The Derek Ryan trainee is a New Jersey-bred, owned by Atlantic Six Racing, LLC and spent his 6-month Virginia residency at Gracie Bloodstock’s Locust Hill Farm in Middleburg.
Susan Cooney (right) was named Virginia Trainer of the Year (VEA photo).
Virginia Trainer of the Year honors will be shared by Susan Cooney, whose farm is based in Delaplane, and Madison Meyers, whose Ballyerin Racing is based at the Middleburg Training Center.
In 2024, Cooney had 11 wins, 9 seconds and 17 third place finishes. Her Carolina Hideaway had a great summer at Colonial Downs, winning twice and collecting a third in three starts. Those victories came in a $75,000 maiden special weight July 26 and in a $70,000 allowance September 4. Cooney’s Speak Your Mind crossed the wire first on two separate occasions at Laurel and seven other horses from her stable captured individual wins in 2024.
Madison Meyers was named 2024 Co-Trainer of the Year
Meyers had an outstanding campaign as well — which included 14 wins, 12 runner-up finishes and 18 thirds. Her biggest win came with Desvio, who was best in the $150,000 Kent Stakes at Delaware Park last July. Strutherstuff captured a $75,000 maiden special weight at Colonial Downs September 4. Back in late winter, Madison’s stable reeled off three straight wins — one at Laurel and two at Charles Town — with Desvio, Treasurer and Destins Rainbow.
The following was written by Leland Schwartz and appeared in FauquierNow January 22, 2025
The 100th running of the Virginia Gold Cup races will be held at Great Meadow, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. The boards of Great Meadow Foundation and the Virginia Gold Cup Association have agreed on how best to keep the racecourse properly maintained, they announced Wednesday.
Race day is May 3, a Saturday.
The two groups said the agreement “follows a year of significant investments and enhancements to the Great Meadow racecourse, ensuring its readiness to host this prestigious event. These improvements include the installation of two new wells to secure a reliable water supply for the venue’s retention ponds, addressing the challenges posed by the 2024 drought, and a comprehensive maintenance plan restoring the racecourse to world-class condition.”
“Our commitment to preserving and enhancing the racecourse at Great Meadow has been unwavering,” said Karen Crane, chair of the Great Meadow Foundation. “We are proud to welcome the Virginia Gold Cup back to the place it was always meant to call home, as we honor a century of equestrian excellence in the heart of Fauquier County.”
The fall races were moved to Middleburg when race officials decided the Great Meadow course was not safe to run on. Great Meadow leadership said they felt conditions would have been ready by the time the races were held at the end of October.
The Gold Cup races at Great Meadow are widely viewed as one of the iconic events that help define Fauquier and Virginia Horse and Wine Country. They generate hundreds of thousands of dollars in local economic activity.
Dr. William Allison, chair of the Virginia Gold Cup Association, stressed the importance of the partnership saying, “The Virginia Gold Cup and Great Meadow share a deep-rooted history. This venue was established as a permanent home for our cherished event, and the collaboration between our organizations ensures we can continue to celebrate the traditions, camaraderie, and world-class competition that define the Gold Cup. We look forward to an unforgettable 100th running in May 2025.”
The Great Meadow Foundation and the Virginia Gold Cup Association expressed gratitude to the Virginia Equine Alliance as well as the many supporters, sponsors and partners “who have made these advancements possible. Together, these collaborative efforts ensure that Great Meadow continues to be a cornerstone of the equestrian community and a destination for excellence in steeplechase racing,” they said.
“I don’t see any reason why we can’t get things back to safety for the horse and the rider. That’s always our paramount concern.” What’s more, Crane said, “The original goal when Nick Arundel bought this property was to have a permanent home for the Virginia Gold Cup and the International Gold Cup.”
“We all want the same thing. Great racing in Virginia,” she said.
